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The Ashes: WA all-rounder Cam Green eager to see how English Bazball fares in Australian conditions

Josh KemptonThe West Australian
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Ashes Launch Press Conference at Optus stadium. Australian cricketer Cameron Green.
Camera IconAshes Launch Press Conference at Optus stadium. Australian cricketer Cameron Green. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

Cam Green has credited England’s Bazball approach as a “cool brand of cricket”, but the Australian all-rounder says he is unsure how the tourists’ ultra-aggressive style will fare in Australian conditions.

Since the appointment of New Zealander Brendon McCullum as coach and all-rounder Ben Stokes taking on the captaincy in 2022, England have completely reversed their approach to Test cricket into one that takes the game on at all costs.

Their run rate has been far and away the quickest in Test cricket since the pair’s appointment and their style has also been marked by numerous aggressive declarations and a continued refusal to play for draws.

Springing to life after a dreadful run which saw England lose 10 of 14 Tests, Bazball has brought an uptick on their results, but it has not won them back the Ashes, which are still held by Australia after a 2-2 draw in England in 2023.

McCullum and Stokes’ appointments came shortly after a disastrous English tour of Australia in 2021/22, meaning the merits of their approach remain untested on Australian shores.

Green said England’s method meant he would always feel confident he was in the game with the ball, regardless of the situation of the match.

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“We’ve never seen it played in Australia,” Green said of England’s ultra-attacking style.

“That’s what can happen, if you’re really attacking, you can bring the other team into the game, but also, you’re putting pressure back on them.

“It’s a cool brand of cricket they’re playing. We’ll wait and see what happens.”

With the ball, England appear increasingly likely to unleash express pace bowlers Mark Wood and Jofra Archer alongside each other on the country’s quickest pitch after Wood bowled at full pace at training on Tuesday morning.

English cricketers Jamie Smith and Josh Tongue and Australian cricketers Cameron Green and Alex Carey.
Camera IconEnglish cricketers Jamie Smith and Josh Tongue and Australian cricketers Cameron Green and Alex Carey. Credit: Jackson Flindell/The West Australian

Archer returned at the back end of the most recent English summer after an injury-enforced absence of more than four years from Test cricket, while Wood underwent knee surgery in March and bowled only eight overs in their practice game at Lilac Hill last week due to hamstring stiffness.

Green was complimentary of England’s entire bowling attack but said Wood and Archer would present particularly stern challenges.

“You look at all the bowlers they’ve got in their squad, they’re high class, they’ve played a lot of Test cricket,” Green said.

“Going off history, fast bowling works (in Perth), but we’ll have to wait and see.”

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